Spiced Espresso Tonic with Cardamom and Orange
A refreshing and invigorating espresso tonic layered with warm cardamom spice and bright orange notes for a unique coffee cocktail. This recipe, ready in about 8 minutes, brings together freshly brewed espresso, tonic water, and cardamom syrup for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 90 calories and feeds 1, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Add this recipe to your weekly plan" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 2 oz freshly brewed espresso
- 4 oz tonic water
- 3/4 oz cardamom syrup
- 1 thin strip orange peel
- 1 cup ice cubes
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Fill a highball glass with 1 cup of ice cubes to chill the glass thoroughly.
- Step 2: Pour 3/4 oz cardamom syrup over the ice.
- Step 3: Slowly add 4 oz tonic water to the glass, pouring gently to preserve carbonation.
- Step 4: Brew 2 oz fresh espresso and allow it to cool slightly for about 20 seconds.
- Step 5: Carefully pour the espresso over the back of a spoon onto the tonic so it floats as a dark layer on top.
- Step 6: Express the oils of 1 thin strip of orange peel over the surface, rub the peel along the rim, then rest it on the edge of the glass as garnish.









